Monthly Archives: December 2020

“Inventor of the Edo period, Igashichi Iizuka”

  • December 28, 2020

I will introduce an inventor who is closely related to today (December 24th). The person I would like to introduce is Igashichi Iizuka, the inventor of the late Edo period. Today in 1836 is the day Igashichi died.

As an inventor of the same Edo period, Hiraga Gennai, who introduced the Dutch-made static electricity generator Elekiter, is famous, but his evaluation as an inventor is controversial.

On the other hand, Igashichi took the nickname of “Karakuri Iga”(mechanist Igashichi), and while being the village headman, he studied architecture, Japanese mathematics, Dutch, etc., made many karakuri(mechanism) and Japanese clocks, and there is even a theory that he had made the Elekiter himself.

Since he spent his life in Tsukuba-gun, Hitachi Province (currently Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture), when “Robot Town Tsukuba” was proposed in 2009, Igashichi Iizuka was introduced as the origin of “Robot Town Tsukuba”. It can also be said that he is the origin of Tsukuba Science City.

For details, please see the link below (Wikipedia in Japanese).
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A3%AF%E5%A1%9A%E4%BC%8A%E8%B3%80%E4%B8%83

(blink)

Mobile rice ball

  • December 21, 2020
#utility model

The other day, I received a “mobile rice ball” from an insurance agent.
It was made from Alpha rice (processed quick-cooking rice) which can be stored for a long time. I also received an advice that the food included in the normal disaster prevention set is not enough in case of emergency.

“Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3197867” was written on the back side of the package, so I looked it up with J-PlatPat. The title of the device was “container”, which means that the registration was not for the rice ball, but for the container.
By changing the form of “rice” to “rice ball”, chopsticks and spoons are not required, and you can eat while walking, but with this container, you can mold and eat the rice ball without touching directly with your hands. You can eat the rice ball without any hesitation even when it is difficult to keep your hands clean in certain situations.
It seems that it is used not only as a preserved food for emergencies, but also as a food to carry for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and overseas travel.
I would like to add what I received this time to our stockpile, and hope that we will consume them in a non-emergency situation.
That is all from Cacao, who has the urge to try it.

Marmite

  • December 16, 2020
#trademark

I would like to introduce to you a certain food I encountered when I lived in England that shocked me.
It’s a smooth dark brown paste called Marmite. British people like to eat it with toast. The taste was salty-ish yet bitter-ish, and I couldn’t understand why it was liked by them because it has a really strong taste. However it had a natto-like sensation that we have in Japan, and it made me feel a sense of familiarity with the British people.

The package design has a strong impact and there is a unique presence like no other. Examining the actual raw materials and manufacturing method, it seems that it is made from yeast generated during the beer manufacturing process. It is nutritious and that is also similar to natto. Some traditional fish and chips are fried in beer, making beer and this Marmite an indispensable existence to Britain.
I would like to eat if I have a chance to go to England again someday.
When I looked up “Marmite” on J-PlatPat, I found 3 Japanese trademark registration. The most recent one was registered in September 2019. I was surprised that the trademark was registered in Japan as well. (Marigold)

Marmite Official Website (English)：Marmite Spread Yeast Extract 250g | Marmite
Wikipedia：Marmite – Wikipedia

Tatami-rimmed bag ~Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)~

  • December 11, 2020

I received a handy bag (bag / tote bag) to put documents in.
This bag is very light, useful and can carry A4 size documents, as well as writing utensils and accessories.
The material of this bag is Tatami-Beri (the edge of the tatami mat).

In modern Japan, the use of chairs and flooring has become a culture, decreasing the number of tatami rooms in Japanese houses. However, this bag is made of Tatami-Beri.

The kimono pattern of this bag is from the characters appearing in Kimetsu no Yaiba. It is a collaboration between Tatami-Beri and Kimetsu no Yaiba.

To support tatami culture, we want to support such company. Total Concentration Breathing! (rice ball)
Homepage (Japanese): 髙田織物株式会社 (ohmiyaberi.co.jp)
About the company (English): TATAMI_E.eca (ohmiyaberi.co.jp)(PDF)

The idea twist! ~The world of automatic driving~

  • December 7, 2020
#patent

Wouldn’t you like to utilize such technology?
There are many surface processing technologies in the world that block electromagnetic waves that cause noise.
On the contrary, there is a rare value to a surface treatment technology which transmits the millimeter waves emitted by the millimeter wave radar, and is also blindfolded (blocks the eyesight), and the appearance is beautiful!
We can introduce to you a Japanese company that provides such rare and valuable technologies.
If you are interested, please contact us (Hattori & Partners).
“Millimeter wave radar” irradiates millimeter waves (wavelengths of electromagnetic waves is 1 to 10 mm) and It is widely used for automatic driving with a measuring device that measures the distance from an obstacle to the time it takes for it to reflect off an object and return. (rice ball)

Nagoya company collaboration product

  • December 4, 2020

The other day, I found a company collaboration product produced by Nagoya. A company collaboration product is a collaboration product jointly produced by multiple companies,

When we talk about collaborative products, we often see collaboration between manga, anime, movies, etc. and stationery or sweets, but since it is a collaboration between companies in Nagoya and food manufacturers, I felt the novelty.

The collaboration product which I found is a collaboration between “Ichibiki Co., Ltd”, a manufacturing company of miso, soy sauce, etc. and “Kasugai Confectionery Co., Ltd.”, a company famous for its bean sweets. The collaboration product is “Boiled Peanuts (chicken stock and pepper flavor)”. The deliciousness of “chicken stock and pepper flavor” and “boiled peanuts” was a real “inventive” collaboration.
For people in the Chubu region, both companies are manufacturers that we eat from time to time, so I’m sure the taste is familiar and nostalgic. (time)